| Knoxville, June 24, 1863 |
| |
| General S. Cooper |
| |
| General, |
| The enemy's cavalry escaped through
Chalder's Gap, with loss of a few prisoners and horses, and their
artillery and baggage. They are beyond the mountains. The railroad {East
Tennessee & Virginia RR} and small trestles will be in order to the
Holston
in four days. The cars can cross the Holston, on a trestle-bridge I am building, within two weeks. After that
time there will be no delay or transfer of freight. After four days
hence the only transfer will be in crossing the Holston, where, if necessary, I will send a small steamer. |
| S. B. Buckner |
| Major-General |
| |
| [Indorsement} |
| June 26, 1863 |
| Engineer Bureau |
| Do you understand how General Buckner
can so speedily renew the bridges? It makes the damage to us less
serious than supposed. I should be pleased to see you on this
subject. |
| J. A. S[eddon] |
| Secretary |
|